Check mechanism for door closers



H. A. Y SIMPSON 2,552,821

2 Sheets-Sheet l CHECK MECHANISM FOR DOOR CLOSERS May l5, 1951 OriginalFiled July 5, 1947 May l5, 1951 H. A. slMPsoN 2,552,821

CHECK MECHANISM FOR DooR cLosERs Original Filed July 5, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Herbert A Simpsqn Patented May 15, 1951 CHECKMECHANISM FR DOOR CLOSERS Herbert A. Simpson, Ionia, Mich., assignor toCharles W. Yerger, Southbury, Conn.

Original application July 5, 1947, Serial No.

759,061, now Patent No. 2,478,717, dated August 9, 1949. Divided andthis application December 11, 1948, Serial No. 64,851

10 Claims.

This invention relates to air check door closers, and more particularlyto a door closer of the type having a coil spring for urging a door toclosed position, and connected to the door by telescoping means designedto utilize a cushion of air to prevent slamming of the door.

One object of this invention is to provide a device of the above naturewhich includes a stop to limit opening movement of the door.

Another object is to provide a device of the above nature which willhave the dependability and other characteristics of the more expensivehydraulic door checking devices, without the disadvantages attendantupon the use of a liquid.

A further object is to provide a device of the above nature in which theair cushion serves to actuate a brake which provides the greater part ofthe checking force, the air cushion being compressed only enough toactuate the brake.

Another object is to provide a device of the above nature embodying anauxiliary air seal.

A further object is to provide a door closer of the above nature whichwill be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy toinstall and manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance, and veryenicient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, there have been illustrated on theaccompanying drawing, three forms in which the invention mayconveniently be embodied in practice.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is a plan view of a door closer showing how it is attached to adoor and a door jamb.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing thespring housing.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, on a larger scale, taken along theline 4-4 of Fig. 5, and showing details of the spring mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectionall view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, with theparts in the position they assume when the door is closed.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 5, showing the parts inthe position they assume when the door is open.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view on a larger scale ofthe brake cylinder and one form of brake mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the brakecylinder, and a second form of brake mechanism employing a pair ofpivoted brake shoes.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view similar 2 to Fig. 8, butrotated degrees therefrom, with the brake shoes in inactive positions.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same, similar to Fig.10, showing the brake shoes in braking positions.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the brake cylinder, showinga third form of compression cup mounting, with the compression cup inits inactive condition.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 12, showing thecompression cup in the shape it assumes under pressure.

The present application is a division of my prior application SerialNumber 759,081, filed July 5, 1947, entitled Air Check Door Closers,patented August 9, 1949, No. 2,478,717.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference characters denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the letters C, D, andJ indicate a door closer, a swingable door, and a door jamb,respectively.

The door closer C is provided with a Z-shaped mounting bracket Il)including parallel offset portions I I, I2 for supporting asubstantially cubical spring housing I3--screws I4 and I5 being providedfor securing the bracket lll to the jamb J and the housing I3,respectively. The housing I3 has an end wall I6, a front wall I'I a backwall I8, a top wall I9, and a bottom wall 20. The end wall I6 isprovided with an outside reinforcing plate 2| tapped for receiving themounting screw I5, and the back wall I8 is provided with an identicaltapped reinforcing plate 22, for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

Adjacent to the front wall I'I and opposite the end wall I8, the housingI3 is provided with a vertical reinforcing ange 23, which, together witha swingable bracket 24, is adapted to close the remaining sixth side ofthe cubical housing I3. The bracket 24 includes inwardly-extendinghorizontal top and bottom flanges 25, 25, apertured to receive avertical pivot pin 21, mounted in the rear corners of the top and bottomwalls I9, 2B.

In order to limit the swinging movement of the brackety 24, the backwall I8 terminates at a distance from the pivot pin 21, forming a stopabutment 2B.

The bracket 24 is operatively connected with the door D by a telescopingguide housing, generally indicated by 29, having one end rigidly mountedupon one face of the bracket 24, .its other end being connected to thedoor D by a bracket 30 and screws 3 I. The telescoping nous ing 29 willbe described in more detail hereinafter.

The spring housing i3 contains a coil spring 32 having an upperinwardly-bent end 33 received in a recess 34 of a spring base block 35.The block 35 is mounted upon a square shaft 3, held in central apertures3?, 38 in the top and bottom housing 'walls I9, 25, respectively. Theshaft 33 carries a toothed ratchet disk 39 eXteriorly of the housing foradjustable securernent by a pivoted pawl dii, whereby one end of thesp'ring 32 may be selectively fixed against rotation, in severalpositions.

The spring 32 also has a lower outstanding end 4l conned in an aperture42 in va vertical connecting plate 43 of a U-shaped Yyoke 44 locatedwithin the spring housing i3. The yoke 4'4 has upper and lowerhorizontal Aaper-tured plates 45, 46 which embrace the spring 32 and thespring base block 35, and receive the square shaft 36 rotatably in theapertures thereof. It willthus be seen that the U-shaped yoke 44 may berotated against the force ofthe spring 32.

In order to connect Vthe swingable 'bracket 2'4 operatively to theU-shaped yoke M, provision V is made'of a bent nur en, (Fig. 5),pivctauy seat its other end, said cap being pivotally joined j to theconnecting bracket 3i), asby a pin 53.

The action ci the spring 32 in closing the door is checked by mechanismwhich includes `a piston -rod 54 threaded into the mounting disk 55 by areduced end 55, and extending concentrioally within the inner vguidetube 49, and the outer cylinder i.

Brake mechanism Referring now to Fig. '7, the piston rod 54 is providedwith an extension 56 which includes `an integral sleeve portion 57islidably embracing the end of the rod 54. The rod extension 55 isretained for limited sliding movement upon the rod 54 by a pair ofdiametrically opposed slots 5S in the sleeve portion 5l, which receive across pin 55 xed in the rod 5d.

The'ends of the cross pin 5@ support a tubular portion 6@ of a rigidbacking washer 6l in fixed position relative to the rod 5d andexteriorly of the extension 56. The Washer 5l serves as an abutment fora iiexible brake cup 52 of a diameter to t within the cylinder 5|. A nut53 'threaded upon the outer end of the extension 55 holds thereon arigid retaining washer 513, a flexible compression cup 55 preferably ofVleather and a rigid expander cone 55 having a Truste-conical peripheralsurface M. -A restoring coil Yspring 568 is disposed upon the extension56 and normally holds the expander cone 65 and the brake cup 62 insubstantially disengaged relation.

A headed screw 69 is loosely threaded in th end cap 52 to serve as anadjustablebleed valve. whereby the speed of operation or the door closerwill'be governed.

Operation VIn the .operation of .the door closer, opening movement ofthe door D, .by means of the telescoping means 29, will swing thebracket 24. from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown inFig. 6, against the force of the spring 32. The toothed disk 39 and thepawl 40 will first have been adjusted to tension the spring 32V toproduce a desired closing force. As the yoke 413 is swung, the spring 32will undergo a build-up, or increase in tension. It will be noted,however, that the eiective radius at which the link il' applies itsforce to the yoke 44 will increase as the yoke is swung, whereby thespring build-up will be approximately.compensated for and substantiallythe .same .closing force Will be exerted upon the door at all positionsthereof.

The force of the spring 32 will be transferred to the door through thelever action of the tube 4-9 and thecylinderrl telescoping thereon,thereby relieving the piston rod 54 and check mechanism of any sidethrust.

When 'the door starts to close, the piston rod 5A Will move inwardly inthe cylinder 5l (to the right in Fig. 7), and as soon Vas air pressureis picked upv by the flexible compression cup @5, the rod extension 55,with `the expander cone 6E thereon, will be retarded against the forceof the spring 58, thereby pressing the frusto-conical surface 61 of saidcone into the brake cup 62. The cup 62, being iieXible, will be expandedby the cone not only at its edge, but also at the root ci itscylindrical portion, due to a tendency of Asaid cup to flatten underpressure. air pressure against the compression cup -65 will cause thecup 62 to act as Va friotional brake against the cylinder wall, and onlya minor and incidental part of the direct checking force will beprovided by said air pressure. If, due to wear or other causes, anyleakage` of air should occur past the compression cup $5, the brake cup152 will, of course, act as an auxiliary air seal, this action beingenhanced by the expanding vfunc- Second form In thesecond form of theinvention, shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 1'1, provision is made of anouter cylinder 'i9 and a lpiston rod 'H mounted in all respects as thecylinder 5| and piston rod 54 of the i'lrst form. The piston rod H isprovided with an extension 12 comprising 'a sleeve portion 'i3 slidableon the rod 1l, and a threaded stud 'i4 xed in one end of the sleeveportion 13.

The extension 'l2 is secured for limited sliding movement on the rod 54by a pair of slots 'l5 in the sides of the sleeve vportion 13 whichreceive projecting end portions of a cross pin 1.6 'iixed in the pistonrod 1 I. The ends of the cross pin T5 are provided with heads 11 whichretain the Vlegs of a pair of U-shaped cam members 18 upon the cross pin16 at each exterior side of the Ysleeve portion 'I3-Said Vcross pinbeing received inslots 18a extending inwardly from theY endsof the legsof said U-shaped cam members 18. The slots 8.a are so proportioned thatwhen the ,parts are in inactive position, as in Fig. 10, the cross pin16 will engage the inner ends of ysaid slots 18a.

The `outer curved parts of the U-shaped .cam members 'I8 tare engaged atone edge by a pair of fulorum hooks 19, each formed centrally .on theinside of one of a ,pair of semi-cylindrical brake shoes 8l). The brakeshoes are further pro- --vided `withY -frictional facings 8 I upontheirouter Accordingly, the

surfaces, and have inwardly turned ears Blaat their forward edges.

The stud 14 of the rod extension 12 is provided with a nut 82 threadedthereon for coaction with a shoulder 83 of the rod extension 12 to holda exible compression cup 83a having a retaining washer 84 and a backingwasher 85.

As a means for holding the rod extension 12 and compression cup 83anormally in their most extended position, a restoring coil spring 86 isprovided upon the extension 12. The spring 86 bears at one end againstthe rigid backing washer 85, and at the other end against the U-shapedcam members 18 through the medium of a bearing ring 81.

The modified form of the device shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 willoperate generally in the same manner as described above, except that thecam-actuated brake shoes perform the braking function. In this device,when the compression cup 83a picks up air pressure, said cup 83a, actingthrough the ears 8|a, will press the brake shoes 80 rearwardly withrelation to the cross pin 16 whereby the U-shaped cam members 18 will betilted as shown in Fig. l1. Inasmuch as the cross pin 16 engages theinner ends of the slots 18a, the cam members 18 will have an effectivelygreater radius when tilted and will press the brake shoes 88 outwardlyinto frictional braking engagement with the cylinder surface.

Third form The third form of the invention shown in Figs. 12 and 13includes generally the same structure as was disclosed in the rst form,shown in Figs. 1 to 7, but is distinguished therefrom by an improvedspecific mounting for the compression cup.

In this form, a flexible compression cup 88 is mounted upon the end of arod extension 89 for sliding movement Within an outer cylinder 90. Abacking for the cup 88 is provided by a rigid expander cone 9| having arearwardly-extending frusto-conical surface 92 and a front surfaceincluding a frusto-conical portion 93 surrounding a flat aperturedtransverse central portion 94, received upon the rod extension 89. A nut95 and a washer 95 serve to hold the cup 88 in its assembled relationagainst the flat central portion 94 of the cone 9|.

It will be understood that the rod extension 89, and the expander cone9| are the counterparts of the extension 56 and the cone 66 as shown inFig. 7. A restoring spring 91 performs the same function as therestoring spring 68 in the rst form. i

In the operation of the third form of theinvention shown in Figs. 12 and13, a frusto-conical front portion 93 of the expander cone 9| permitsthe compression cup 88 to flex rearwardly under the influence ofpressure in the cylinder 90, thereby assuming the shape shown in Fig.13.

The purpose of this feature is to provide repeated exing of the cup 88with each movement of the door closer, thereby preventing the cupmaterial from taking a set and thus failing tc pick up compression. Thisconstruction also prevents excessive friction or vacuum drag, such assometimes occurred in prior door closures during the return stroke ofthe piston.

Further, the mounting bracket l is equally well adapted to provideeither right or left-hand mountings merely by rotating the door closer180 degrees with relation to said bracket, said rotation being permittedby the releasable clamping screw I secured in the reinforcing plate 2|or 22, as the case may be. Thus, the bracket I8, when invertedA from theposition shown in Fig. 2, will be adapted for mounting the door closerin reversed position upon the opposite door jamb.

While the improved door closer has been herein described as applied inan inside mounting, it may, if desired, also be applied to a door closerin an outside mounting. In this case the Z-shaped mounting bracket willbe applied to the upper rail of the door, and the offset bracket portionI2 will be secured by the screw l5 to the back reinforcing plate Z2, theconnecting bracket 30 being secured to the door lintel.

One advantage of the three forms of door closers herein disclosed isthat only a small degree of air pressure is required to operate thecheck means. The air compression cup is never called upon to resistexcessive pressure, and consequently will have a long life and will notrequire constant adjustment.

Further, the closer not only has the dependability and smoothness ofoperation found in hydraulic door closers, but will also maintainuniform operation despite changes of temperature.

The form of the invention shown vin Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 has beenfound particularly suitable for heavy doors because of its large brakingsurface.

While there have been disclosed in this specication three forms in whichthe invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that these formsare shown for the purpose of illustration only, and-that the inventionis not to be limited to the specific disclosures, but may be modifiedVand embodied in various other forms Without departing from its spirit.In short, the invention includes al1 the modications and embodimentscoming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, What is claimed as new, and'for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In a door closer having a mechanism for applying a resilient closingforce to a door, an air check mechanism for resisting the force of said'closing mechanism comprising a cylinder, a closure at one end of thecylinder, a piston-carrying rod within the cylinder, said rod beingurged toward said closure by said closing mechanism, an expandable brakedevice attached to said piston rod, and means responsive to the force ofsaid closing mechanism for expanding said brake device into slidablefrictional engagement With the inner surface of said cylinder, saidexpanding means comprising a compression cup movably connected to saidrod, said compression cup having slidable sealing engagement with theinner surface of said cylinder and adapted to be actuated by aircompressed between said cup and said closure, whereby normal closingmovement of the door will be continuously resisted by friction betweensaid brake device and said cylinder.

2. In a door closer having a mechanism for applying a resilient closingforce to a door, an air ycheck mechanism comprising a cylinder having anend closure, a piston-carrying rod urged toward said closure by saidclosing mechanism, an expandable brake device attached to said rodwithin the cylinder, means for expanding said brake device into slidablefrictional engagement with said cylinder, said expanding meanscomprising a compression cup slidably connected to said rod 4and adaptedf to be actuated by air compressed between lsaid cupand said closure,anda spring for restoring `said expanding .means to `inactive positionVupon release of air :pressure in said cup, the stiffness of said springIbeing less than the eiiective force of said closing mechanism,'wherebysaid brake device will operate to check the movement of the door closercontinuously during normal operation 'of said closing mechanism.

3. In an air-check mechanism, a cylinder having an end closure, apiston-carrying rod within the cylinder, an expandable brake deviceattached to said rod, and means engaging the entire `in'terior'surfaceof said cylinder for expanding said brake device into slidablefrictional sealing contact with the entire inner surface .of saidcylinder, said expanding means comprising a compression cup slidablyconnected to said rod and adapted to be actuated by air compressedbetween said cup and said closure, anda spring urging said expandingmeans to inactive condition, the strength of said spring beinginsuflicient to resist the force of the compressed air, and onlysufficient to overcome the friction of the parts for restoring theexpanding means to inactive condition.

4. In an air `check mechanism, a cylinder, a piston-carrying rod thereinhaving a cross pin, a brake device connected to said cross pin andfrictionally engaging the entire interior surface of said cylinder, atubular rod extension having longitudinal slots embracing said crosspin, a compression cup fixed upon said extension, and means responsiveto relative longitudinal Vmovement between said rod and said extensionand controlled by said compression cup for expanding said brake deviceinto slidable frictional sealing contact with the inner surface of -saidcylinder.

5. In an vair check mechanism, a cylinder, a closure at one end of thecylinder, a pistoncarrying 'rod within -the cylinder, a rod extensionlmounted for limitedsliding movement upon said piston rod, a compressioncup mounted upon said extension, a brake shoe within the cylinder andprovided with means for abutting said compression cup, and a tiltablecam member engaging a vpin upon said piston rod and also engaging afulcrum hook upon .said brake shoe, whereby air Vpressure within thecylinder will move the compression-cup` and the abutting brake shoerelatively-to the piston rod, to tilt the cam member and press the brakeshoe against the cylinder surface.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein a Ypair of the brakeshoes are provided in di- .ametrically opposed relation, and a pair ofthe tiltable cam members is provided in engagement with said pin andeach .in operative engagement with one -of said brake shoes.`

7. In an Vair check mechanism a cylinder, a closure at one end of `thecylinder, `a. piston- .carrying rod within the cylinder, a Vrodextension mounted for limited sliding movement upon said piston rod, a`compression vcup and an expander cone mounted upon said extension, anda flexible brake cup :fixed upon said piston -rod and adapted to receivesaid cone, whereby air pressure within the cylinder will move the.compression vcup to Vpress the expander cone into the brake cup.

8. In anrair check mechanism, a cylinder, a closure at one end of thecylinder, a pistoncarrying rod within the cylinder, a iiexible brake cupYiixed upon the piston rod, a cone adapted to expand the brake cup forvariable frictional engagement with the `cylinder wall, and acompression cup adapted to press 4said cone into the brake cup.

9. In an air check mechanism, a cylinder having an end closure, a pistonArod within the cylinder, a flexible air cup lsecured to Said pistonrod, a compression cup mounted for limited sliding movement upon saidrod between said air cup and said closure, and an expander coneconnected to said compression cup and adapted to enter said air cup,whereby airpressure against the compression cup within the cylinder willpress the expander cone into the air cup to insure a close seal 'betweenthe air cup Aand the cylinder.

10. In a door closer, `a cylinder, 4a piston, and means mounting said.piston for sliding movement within the cylinder, said piston includinga flexible flanged compression cup which is imperforate outwardly `ofVits center and a rigid backing member secured against the Vrear of saidcup and of vsubstantially the same diameter, said backing member havinga rearwardly inclined frusto-conical edge portion, whereby fluidlpressure against the lcompression cup will flexits imperforate portionrearwardly against said inclined portion of said backing member.

HERBERT A. SIMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Bush Mar. 3, 1925

